Pipe-line cleaning device



Dec. 23, 1952 a VER NOOY PIPE-LINE CLEANING DEVICE 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1Filed July 27, 1948 Q M Q Q N Patented Dec. 23, 1952 PIPE-LINE CLEANINGDEVICE Burton Ver Nooy,

Atlanta,

Ga., assignor to Standard Oil Development Company, a corporation ofDelaware Application July 2'7, 1948, Serial No. 40,856

1 Claim. 1

The present invention relates to a pipeline or conduit cleaning device.More particularly the invention relates to a plug type cleaning deviceprovided for movement through a conduit under impulse of a stream ofiluid flowing through the conduit, and in which a plurality of scraperelements are arranged about the body of the device for scraping contactwith the conduit walls, to afford substantial aid in centering thdevice, and to maintain continuous contact with the conduit walls inspite of irregularities therein, or normal wear of the scraper members.

The invention and its indicated objects may be fully understood from thefollowing description, when read in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side levational view of the device positioned in a conduitwith parts broken away to expose structural details of the device, and

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view along the line II-II of Fig. 1.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated by the drawings, with thedevice in operating position within a conduit l, a plurality of scraperelements 2, illustrated as brush elements, are mounted on the outersurface of the ends of the opposed leg portions 3a of a plurality ofU-shaped spring members 3. The spring leg portions 3a, when the deviceis not confined in a conduit, normally extend outwardly from the baseportion of the members 3, in the manner indicated by dotted lines inFig. 1. When confined, as shown, the leg portions exert a pressureradially outward, forcing the scraper elements 2 against the conduitwall I. Each brush element is formed with a back portion 2a set withbristles of substantially equal length. The brush elements, including thback and bristle portions, are arcuately shaped laterally. The brushelements, with the supporting spring members, are disposed in sets, thelateral curvature ofthe scraper elements in each set substantiallyconforming to the curvature and diameter of the conduit in which thedevice is to be used, so that, when inserted in a conduit the elementswill make substantially uniform contact with the conduit wall und rpressure of the expansible leg portions 311 of the spring members 3. InFig. 1, only the brush bristles extending vertically upward or'downwardare shown to avoid confusion with other portions of the device. It ispreferred that each element be included substantially within an arc offrom about 80 to about 90, whereby, in a set of four, an arcuatedistance of from about 5 to about will remain between element edgeportions to provide space for compression of the spring members whenconfined and in contact with the conduit walls. Each brush element ismounted on a spring member leg portion by means of machine bolts 4bristles being omitted in the brush for bolt holes therethrough.

As stated, the U-shaped spring members are arranged in sets, usually oftwo members, with the center line of the leg portions of each memberopposed and spaced arcuately at 180 from the other, the spacing of legportions of one member from those of the other in the set whencompressed being about Where two or more sets are used, each additionalset is disposed in the assembly in altered angular relation withreference to any other set, so as to provide an overlapping dispositionof the brush members longitudinally of the device. For example, in thedevice illustrated by Fig. 1, with the leading set disposed so as tohave leg portions centered on the 860, 90, 180 and 270 positions, thetrailing set is disposed so as to have leg portions centered on the 45,225 and 315 positions, as is specifically indicated by dotted lines inthe showing of Fig. 2. As shown, the brush elements 2 are slightlyofiset longitudinally, substantially as shown in Fig. 1. This resultsfrom the overlapped relationship of the base portions of members 3, butmay be accomplished where desired either by suitable adjustment of thebrush elements 2 on the leg portions of U-shaped members 3, or by makingthe leg portions of one member longer than the leg portions of the othermember of the set. Other forms of scrapers, including knives, serratedmetal blades and the like may be substituted for brush elements 2 asdesired or required in service.

At each end of the device is mounted a piston element 5. As shown, apressure cup element 5 is utilized, with the cupped portion of eachelement facing for rearward exposure as the device is inserted in aconduit. These cup elements are preferably formed of a flexible,resilient material, which may be leather, rubber, or a synthetic rubberbase material, such as those containing polymers of butylene orisobutylene, depending upon the service for which intended. In anyevent, the primary purpose of the elements 5 is to provide a surfaceagainst which pressure of a stream of fiuid flowing through a conduitmay be exerted to move the device through the conduit under impulse ofsuch stream. The cup elements also serve to maintain cleaning debrismoving ahead of or along with the device, to be removed at spaced pointsin the line. Loose particles in the fluid ahead of the device are sweptahead by the leading element, while particles loosened from the conduitwalls by the brushes 2 are swept along with the device by means of thetrailing element. By tapering th side wall portions of the cups asshown, the pressure of the conduit stream tends to expand the cupelements and maintain a close but flexible contact with the conduitwalls. Where desired, annular flat disk shaped piston elements may besubstituted for the cup elements shown, without substantially reducingthe efficiency of the device.

In the complete assembly, the elements and members are maintained intheir operation relationships by means of a mandrel rod 6 over which aredisposed spool elements I and 8, and enlarged washer or backing plateelements 9, l and H, the assembly being held in fixed relationship bymeans of mandrel nuts [2 and I3. These may be castellated and held bymeans of cotter pins through red 5. Of the two spool elements, thetrailing end element 7 is provided with an enlarged annular flangeportion la, and a smaller flange lb at the forward end. Flange portions8a and 8b are provided on the spool element 8 also, but both aresubstantially equal to the portion lb on element 7. If desired, however,the flanges may all be formed as are lb, 8a and 3b, andv an additionalbacking plate element used to replace the enlarged flange la. The flangeportions 1 and 8, the plates, 9, H] and H, and the piston elements 5 areeach provided with a central opening substantially equal in diameter tothat of the rod 6.

Where desired, or required in service, additional sets of scraperelements may be added to the assembly. These may be inserted between thepiston elements 5 with the inclusion of additional spool elements 8,forwardly of the element 1, and a longer rod 6 or, as shown, by additionto the trailing end of the device between the plate I l andwasher M. Inany event, the number of sets of scraper elements is largely determinedby the conditions of the conduit, and by the radius of curvature ofbends or turns in the line to be travelled by the device. However, dueto the inherent flexibility of the device, within reasonable limits, theresult to be achieved may be the primary determinant.

Although the device may be assembled from either end of the mandrel rod6, it is preferred that the assembly be made from trailing end toleading end. Thus the nut I3 is first applied to an end of the rod 5.With the nut applied, the rod is then inserted through the centralopenings of the respective elements in order, as follows:

1. A washer M, which may be a lock washer;

2. An enlarged washer or backing plate I I.

3. A piston element 5.

4. The spool element 1, with the flange 1a toward' the element 5.

5. A set of U-shaped spring members 3, with the leg portions and scraperelements extending toward the trailing end of the device.

6. The spool element 8.

'7. A second set of spring members'Z disposed in the same fashion asthat first mentioned.

8. Abacking plate l0.

9. A second piston element 5.

10. An enlarged washer or backing plate 9,

which as shown is provided with a ring element [6 welded to the outersurface of the plate 9 to serve as a handle for the assembled device.

11. A washer l5, which may be a lock Washer, and

V bers, each having a spring base portion engaged 12. A second mandrelnut l 2.

Obviously the elements may be assembled in reverse order to accomplishthe same result. Also, when additional spring members, scrapers, andspool members are to be utilized, they are added to the assembly asshown by Fig. 1, or as previously described.

With the several elements in position the sets of spring members andscrapers are adjusted to dispose them in the desired angularrelationship, and the nuts are tightened to fix the elements rigidly inthe desired relationship to one another.

In use, the assembled device is inserted in a conduit through a suitableconduit trap or entrance gate, with the ring element l6 facing in thedirection. of fluid flow through the conduit. The device may be removedfrom the line by way of an exit trap or gate located at any given pointbeyond the place of introduction. The inherent flexibility of the pistonelements 5 and spring members 3 permits considerable latitude of useof'any given device in lines of slightly varying inside diameter, andalso where conduit curvatures are not uniform, thus substantiallyavoiding the possible difficulties to be experienced by a cleaningdevice becoming wedged in the line. Also, by use of paired members, insets, arranged as set forth, the device is balanced longitudinally inthe conduit, and is substantially self centering, avoiding excessive anduneven wear on the flexible cup members 5.

What is claimed is: V

A conduit cleaning device assembly, consisting of rigid mandrel rodthreaded at each end and, mounted on said rod, concentric therewith andin succession from one end thereof, an assembly retainer nut threaded onone-end of said rod; an annular backing plate, one side bearing againstsaid nut; an annular piston element, one side bearing against andextending radially beyond said plate; an elongated, spacer spoolelement, flanged at each end, one flanged end engaging the other side ofsaid piston element; a pair of U-shaped spring members each having aspring base portion engaged by said rod and the other flanged end ofsaid spool element, and opposed, spring leg portions extending angularlyoutward from said base portion and toward said piston element; a secondflanged spacer spool element bearing at one flanged end againstsaidspring members; a second pair of spring members bearing against theother flanged end of said element; another annular backing plate bearingagainst the second pair of spring members; a second annular pistonelement bearing against the latter backing plate on one side, andextending radially beyond said plate; a third backing plate bearingagainst the other side of the latter piston element and of lesserdiameter than the element; a second assembly retainer nut threaded onsaid rod, the

two nuts between them adapted to secure and re-- tain the assembly as arigid unit with said mandrel rod, in which unit said spring member baseportions are disposed in right angular relation in each pair, with therespective pairs in altered angular relation to each other; and ascraper element mounted on each spring memberleg portion extendingoutwardly therefrom, substantially at right angles thereto and includingan additional pair of such U-shaped spring memby said rod, said firstmentioned annular backing plate and said first mentioned assemblyretainer nut, the spring leg portion of said members extending angularlyoutward from each base par-- 5 tion longitudinally away from said firstmentioned piston element.

BURTON VER NOOY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 302,634 Keating July 29, 1884728,085 Cruzan May 12, 1903 Number 6 Name Date Bowman Dec. 16, 1919Bowman Nov. 25, 1924 McGeehin May 3, 1927 Irvin July 17, 1934 SchaerJuly 20, 1937 Burnham July 8, 1941 Heltzel et a1 Nov. 25, 1941 Constantet a1 May 5, 1942 Hall Jan. 1, 1946 Stephens July 20, 1948

